Self-adjusting roller



Mrch 3, 1931. R. G. I E: TQURNEAU SELF ADJUSTTNG ROLLER Filed Feb.

INVENTOR R. @.Le YTvuI-Jueau BY .Mm

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 195514 ROBERT G. LE TOURNEA'U, 0F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA SELF-ADJUSTING ROLLER l j Application filed February 21, 1980. Serial No. 430,251.

This invention relates to rollers such as are used in rolling ground after grading operations and the like, and particularly to one vof that type which is pulled by a tractor rather than by a self-propelled means.

The invention deals with a roller of this character which is of relatively great width sol as to enable a considerable area of ground being traversed at one operation. A roller of this width however if made rigid from end to end cannot of course be successfully used on ground having a concave or convex contour in a transverse plane. This is because in the first instance only the outermost portions of the roller would engage the ground and the central portion would hardly Contact therewith or if it did it would be to such a slight extent as to provide an inecient rolling action.

In the second instance just the reverse would be true, or in other words only the central portion of the roller would properly engage the ground and the roller would probablyteeter from side to side so that if one end of the roller was engaged with the ground the other would be entirely clear of the same.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to provide a large width roller in' which the above mentioned objectionable features have been eliminated by providing a number of alined rollers, mounted together as a unit but in such a manner that the different rollers can automatically adjust themselves to unevenness in the transverse contour of the ground so that all the ground traversed by the structure will be engaged and yrolled with equal eiiciency. 4 1 o /A further object'of the invention is to prone which will be exceedingly'eective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification andl claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding 4parts in the several views:

y duce a simple and inexpensive device and y'et together as possible,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved roller structure.

, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section of a roller.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on the 53 line 3-3 of Fig. 1. l

. Fig. 4 is a front end view of the structure 1n more or less diagrammatic form showing the same as operating on a ground surface of concave transverse curvature.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the main frame of the structure comprises a tongue 1 adapted to be connected to and supported by the tractor used to haul the roller. At its rear end the tongue is rigidly connected to a cross-beam 2. These members are of hollow built-up construction of rectangular cross section, so as to be very strong and rigid but relatively light. Horizontal spindles 3 are turnably mounted in sleeves l which are secured in the beam; said spindles projecting rearwardly from the beam at evenly spaced intervals along the length of the same. At their rear ends these spindles are fixed on separate auxiliary beams 5 centrally between the ends of the same; these beams being parallel to but a short distance behind the beam 2. This mounting allows the auxiliary beams to swing independently in a vertical plane transversely of the movement of the structure, as will be evident. f

As shown in the accompanying drawing four such beams are provided. To the ends of the outermost beams arms 6 are rigidly secured and project thence rearwardly to serve as supports for the shafts of the rollers 7 which'are mounted between the corresponding pairs of arms. To the ends of the inner pair of beams 5, arms 8 are pivotally c onnected, which varms project rearwardly and serve as supports for the shafts of other rollers 9, which are the same size as the rollers 7 and are normally in axial alinement therewith, The sets of arms are as close so that the rollers may be correspondingly close. This enables the rollers to form a practically continuous rolling structure, but owing to their mounting as above described the different rollers may the positioning of the end rollers to the auxiliary beams 5 to which the corresponding Y arms 6 are rigidly connected.

The ends of the rollers are clamped by solid disc heads 10 in which inwardly projecting sleeves 1l are fixed at the center. The sleeves carry bushingsrlQ which turn on the corresponding roller shaft 13; said shaft' at its endsv being clamped in the adjacent supporting arms. A thin tube or sleeve`14: surrounds the shaft between the ends of the sleeves 11 and is secured to the same, so as to form a lubricant chamber for the shaft. A tube l5 to introduce lubricant into the chamber from the exterior leads from said sleeve 14 to the exterior of one of the discs 10. This prevents the escape of the lubricant and also permits the roller to be filled with water or other ballast when necessary without contacting with the shaft or its bearings. f

To limit the swinging movement of the beams 5 I may if desired provide stops 16 mounted on the beam 2 in over and under hanging and spaced relation to the adjacent ends of the adjacent beams 5.

Though I have shown and described a roller constituting a pair or rollers capable of vertical movement ina longitudinal plane, as well as a pair capable of swinging movement only in a vertical transverse plane; it-

Will be evident that a structure usm only the latter type of roller ma be use or a greater or lesser number o the relativel flexibly mounted rollers'may be employe In any case the functioning of the structure is the same, namely: to enable all the roller units to contact with the ground with equal eifectiveness'under all conditions.

From the foregoing description it will be rreadily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth inl detail the present and preferred construction of thedevice, still in practice such deviations1 from such detail maybe resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roller structure havingl a plurality of spaced rollers arranged in substantially common axial alinement, and-a main frame 2. In a roller structure having a plurality i of spaced rollers arranged in substantially common axial alinement, and a main frame structure adapted for connectionto a draft means and which includes a rigid beam extending transversely of the direction of travel, auxiliary beams, one for each roller, behind said cross beam, pivotal connections between said auxiliary and cross beams arranged to permit the former to swing in a vertical plane transversely of the direction of travel, means connecting the outermost auxiliary beams and rollers ltogether as a rigid unit, and means connecting the inner beams to the, corresponding rollers in a man ner to cause them to swing transversely with 5 said arms but enabling sald rollers| to inde- 9 pend'ently swing in a vertical plane longitudinally of the direction of travel.'

In testimon whereof I affix m signature.

ROB RT G. -LE TOU NEAU. 

